B-virus from pet macaque monkeys: an emerging threat in the United States?
Of primary concern when evaluating macaque bites are bacterial and B-virus infections. B-virus infection is highly prevalent (80% to 90%) in adult macaques and may cause a potentially fatal meningoencephalitis in humans. We examined seven nonoccupational exposure incidents involving 24 persons and eight macaques. Six macaques were tested for herpes B; four (67%) were seropositive. A common observation was that children were more than three times as likely to be bitten than adults. The virus must be assumed to be a potential health hazard in macaque bite wounds; this risk makes macaques unsuitable as pets.
Ostrowski
S R
SR
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Leslie
M J
MJ
Parrott
T
T
Abelt
S
S
Piercy
P E
PE
D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000821:virology*; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D006568:Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine; D006801:Humans; D008251:Macaca / Q000821:virology*; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D011323:Primates; D011634:Public Health; D014481:United States